A Rolls-Royce worker from Pendle has spoken of his joy at being able to donate lifesaving bone marrow to a Spanish man.

However, Peter Phillips will never get the chance to meet the man whose life he saved, because of Spain's strict donor laws.

Peter, who works and lives in Barnoldswick, signed up to the Anthony Nolan register in 1985 and after nearly 20 years has finally become a donor.

The 41-year-old engineer became interested in the organisation after attending an information session.

He said: "I got involved quite by chance. Some people give blood and at the time it was something I decided I would like to do.

"It is not like donating a kidney, as the marrow grows back. I just thought it was something I could do which would not affect my life."

All Peter knows about the recipient is that he is younger than him and has had to wait three years to for him to go into remission before he could donate the marrow.

He added : "The Spanish have really strict donor restrictions so I will never know who he is. But at the end of the day you don't go on the register to meet the person. You do it because you think it's something you can do for someone else."

The register was formed in 1974 to help those suffering from leukaemia by maintaining the UK's largest bone marrow register of volunteers.

Peter Crampton, the charity's area manager, said the organisation saved the lives of 342 adults and children in the UK last year and a further 115 overseas.

He added: " We are really grateful for the support that Rolls-Royce has given Peter to enable him to do this".